Health

Viruses

Like other wild animals, some bats may carry viruses that can be transmitted to humans. The two major viruses that have been identified in some bats includes the Australian Bat Lyssavirus and the Hendra Virus.

If you find a sick or injured bat or encounter a bat caught on a barbed-wire fence, do not touch the bat. Contact a local vet for details or your nearest wildlife carer.

The best approach is to leave bats alone.

Flying-fox droppings

Flying-foxes have a very efficient digestive system with food passing through the gut in 12-34 minutes. This is to enable them to remain light so that they can easily fly. This means they often defecate in flight, splattering objects beneath their flight path with excrement.

If you come across any fruit or vegetables that have a “splattering” of flying-fox faeces, or from any other animals, you should either wash and peel the item or discard it in the bin.